Parties adopted the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) as part of the Cancun Agreements at the 2010 Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico (COP 16/ CMP
6). In the Agreements, Parties affirmed that adaptation must be addressed with the same level of priority as
mitigation. The CAF is the result of three years of negotiations on adaptation under the AWG-LCA that had followed the adoption of the Bali Action Plan at the
2007 Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia (COP 13/ CMP 3).

A chronology provides an overview of
all relevant negotiations, meetings and documents on the Cancun Adaptation Framework

Overview

The objective of the Cancun
Adaptation Framework (paras 11-35) is to enhance action on adaptation, including through
international cooperation and coherent consideration of matters relating to adaptation under the Convention.
Ultimately enhanced action on adaptation seeks to reduce vulnerability and build resilience in developing
country Parties, taking into account the urgent and immediate needs of those developing countries that are
particularly vulnerable. At theDurban Climate Change
Conference in November/ December 2011, Parties significantly advanced the implementation of
the Framework.

The Cancun Adaptation Framework includes the following five clusters:

1. Implementation

All Parties to plan, prioritize and implement adaptation actions and to use existing channels to provide
information on support provided and received for adaptation actions and on activities undertaken;

A process to enable LDC Parties - building upon their experience with the NAPAs - to formulate and implement
national adaptation
plans and an invitation to other developing country Parties to employ the modalities
formulated to support those plans;

Developed country Parties to provide developing country Parties, taking into account the needs of
those that are particularly vulnerable, with long-term, scaled-up, predictable, new and additional finance, technology, and
capacity-building (paras 95-137) to implement adaptation actions, plans, programmes and projects at
local, national, subregional and regional levels, including activities under the Cancun Adaptation Framework.

3. Institutions

At the global level: establishment of an Adaptation Committee to
promote the implementation of enhanced action on adaptation in a coherent manner under the Convention;

At the regional level: strengthening and, where necessary, establishing regional
centres and networks, in particular in developing countries;

At the national level: strengthening and, where necessary, establishing and/or
designation of national-level institutional arrangements.

Be based on and guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional and indigenous
knowledge;

Be undertaken with a view to integrating adaptation into relevant social, economic and environmental
policies and actions.

5. Stakeholder engagement

Relevant multilateral, international, regional and national organizations, the public and private
sectors, civil society and other relevant stakeholders are invited to undertake and support enhanced action
on adaptation at all levels.

New

Decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its eighteenth sessions: